California's university system is one of the premier higher

The words of Kevin de León remind us that the strength of a society lies not merely in its wealth, but in how it values and sustains education—that sacred torch which illuminates the path of progress. When he speaks of California’s university system as one of the premier higher education systems in the world, he is not merely boasting of grandeur, but invoking a responsibility. Greatness in education demands stewardship; it requires that those who come from afar to partake in its riches contribute their share, so that the children of that land—the ones whose parents built the very foundations of that greatness—may also ascend the steps of learning without being barred by poverty.

In ancient times, the Greeks understood this principle. The city of Athens, though open to philosophers from distant lands, never neglected its own youth. The Academy of Plato was not built on generosity alone; it was sustained by the collective duty of its citizens to nourish wisdom within their own walls first. For a city that neglects its own learners, even as it courts the admiration of strangers, plants the seeds of its decline. So too does California, as a modern Athens of intellect, carry the moral duty to ensure that access and affordability are preserved for her own people—lest the very heart of her enlightenment be dimmed by neglect.

When Kevin de León speaks of requiring that non-resident students pay a premium, it is not born of greed, but of justice. Those who come from afar come to reap the harvest of a field they did not sow. To ask them to contribute more is to uphold the balance of fairness; for the revenue generated is not a tribute to the state, but a gift returned to its people—fuel for new scholarships, new libraries, new doors opened to the dreamers of humble means. Such a principle echoes the wisdom of all civilizations: that privilege must carry weight, and access must yield equity.

Consider the story of the University of California in the mid-twentieth century. When the waves of postwar prosperity swelled, and thousands of veterans sought education under the GI Bill, the system faced both opportunity and strain. Yet through measured governance and strategic contribution, California turned this influx into an era of golden growth. It built campuses that became sanctuaries of discovery and diversity. This was not achieved by denying outsiders, but by balancing the open hand of welcome with the firm heart of duty. Thus was born a legacy that endures—a living embodiment of shared investment in education.

To the youth of today, these words offer a solemn teaching: education is both a right and a responsibility. It cannot survive on sentiment alone; it must be guarded, funded, and honored by all who benefit from it. If the gates of learning are to remain open, then those who enter from distant lands must help keep them strong. And if the children of California are to climb higher, they must see their universities not as distant towers, but as the inheritance of their people—a covenant passed from one generation to the next.

This quote also challenges the selfish heart of modern complacency. Too often, nations boast of their universities yet allow tuition to crush their own citizens. Too often, global prestige overshadows local purpose. But education, as de León reminds us, is not an ornament of civilization—it is its spine. It is not to be traded for foreign acclaim, but to be fortified for future generations. To sustain it is not an act of taxation—it is an act of faith in the future.

Let all who hear this teaching remember: to invest in education is to invest in eternity. The marble of temples may crumble, but the mind of a scholar endures beyond the ages. Therefore, let California and all lands alike uphold their sacred trust—to welcome the world, but never forsake their own. Let each student, resident or not, understand that the price they pay is not a burden but a blessing, for it keeps the flame of knowledge burning bright for all who come after them.